Jump Start # 492

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

  Comfort is something most of us long for and go out of our way to find. Comfortable clothes to wear, comfortable bed to sleep in, thermostat set at a comfortable temperature—those are regular routines in our world to bring us comfort.

  Our passage addresses a much deeper level of comfort. It’s the inner comfort of the heart and soul. We may call that peace or joy or satisfaction. Our clothes, bed and air temperature may be just right, but when things are not right in the heart, external things will not make us feel better.

  The context of our passage has to do with the death of Christians. Their loved ones had passed away and they were “uncomfortable” on the inside about that. That’s a common reaction and feeling. Often in the O.T., when tragedy or bad news happened a man would put on sack cloth and pour ashes on his head. The point was that he was miserable on the inside and he was going to be miserable on the outside.

  There are many reasons why a person may be uncomfortable on the inside. Guilt will do that. Sin definitely does that. Regrets, failures, hurting others, failure to forgive, being accused of something you didn’t do—those are all the things that rob us of sleep, irritate our stomachs, occupy our thoughts and lead to fear, worry, doubt and depression. Miserable on the inside. No one likes that feeling. The only way to find comfort is in God. The bottle numbs the feelings, but the problems remain. Leaving town is only a band-aid, the problem remains. Going to a funny movie, being with friends are all temporary things that simply do not last.

  Paul helped the Thessalonians by giving them hope and promise through God’s word. Their fellow believers had died. Was that the end? What happens next? They were not sure and that led to them being miserable on the inside.

  The words of Paul taught them that the departed believers had gone to be with the Lord. When the Lord returns, He will bring them with him. Those believers who are alive when the Lord comes will be reunited with them. Sprinkled in these words are the assurance of a resurrection and the hope that lies in Jesus Christ. God has not abandoned these departed believers. These words were intended to build faith, remove doubt and comfort one another.

  It’s going to be ok—is what Paul is saying. Their walk and their faith in Jesus Christ has not gone unnoticed by God. He’s taken care of them. They are with the Lord.

  Death tends to bring questions to our minds. We wonder what the departed is doing. We wonder what their world is like. We wonder if we will ever see them again. Fair questions. Good questions. Questions that are answered in the Bible.

 There is a comfort that only God can give. Hot chocolate, warm blankets and a fire place may make us feel good on the outside, but only God can help us on the inside. The guilt, fear, doubts and sins are what God is good at helping us with.

  Often no one really understands what you are experiencing. And even if they did, they usually don’t know what to say. God does. His word has a way of giving hope to hopeless people. Lepers who lived a terrible life knowing what their fate would be, found mercy in Jesus Christ. The woman caught in sexual sin found mercy in Jesus Christ. Heaven isn’t just for those who make honor roll in God’s book, it’s for all who walk with Jesus. God doesn’t have an A team and a B team. There’s no junior varsity team with God.

  God can save all of us. God can use all of us. God has a plan for all of us. Not just those who are nice, but all of us. Some of us have journeyed far from God and have gone down the dark paths of sexual sins, drug addictions and theft. Some have spent time in prison for those wrongs. Some have walked away from marriages when they should have stayed. Some have given up their babies when they couldn’t keep them. Some have wasted years, tons of money and trashed relationships and ruined themselves with their families. Not all of us have come from good families who took us to church. Not all of us grew up on the stories of Noah and David. Many do not have fond memories of childhood.

  The Corinthians were like that. They worshipped idols, they were sexually immoral, they were drunks, cheaters, homosexuals, and thieves. They knew the dark side of life. They understood misery on the inside. Paul tells us that they were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus. They were made right by God. They found comfort in Christ.

  God does not give up on us. He never will. The only thing that will bring true comfort to your inside is God. Nothing else will. Nothing else lasts.

  Comfort one another with these words. There is hope—and it’s found in Jesus. Maybe one of these cold evenings, you need to wrap yourself up in a fuzzy blanket, grab a cup of hot coca, and open the Bible and read about God’s mercy and God’s love for you. See where God has a plan for you. See where God wants you to obey Him and follow Him. Find the comfort that only God can give—even in the time of death. There’s nothing else like it.

  God is good, He’s so good to us!

Roger